Hidden Gem Souvenir: Royal Doctor’s Formula – A Bangkok Herbal Shop with Nearly a Century of History

▲ The herbal shop hidden in the alleys.

Reported and photographed by Yu Jiayun / Thailand

Many people traveling to Thailand love to buy all kinds of medicine, from topical and oral remedies to energy-boosting and brain-stimulating products, which are very popular among Asians. However, aside from the commonly seen medicines online, there is also a hidden herbal shop tucked away in the alleys of Bangkok that is well-known among locals and foreign visitors. For nearly a century, this shop has used the most traditional formulas to develop massage oils, nasal decongestants, and motion sickness relief using natural herbs. Its vintage, hipster-style packaging has also become an alternative choice for souvenirs.

▲ Star products in the shop.

Wang Dafu Muwan Hall (MOWAAN TRADITIONAL THAI MEDICINE) was founded in 1924 by Thai royal physician Dr. Wang Lo-Mong, who once served in the palace. It has a history of 93 years and is now in its fourth generation. Hidden in the residential alleys near Bangkok’s Giant Swing, the shop retains its colonial-style exterior and vintage Western-style interior decor, unchanged for decades. Despite gaining considerable fame over generations, it has never expanded, preserving its original appearance.

▲ %Ji Chui Nuo Mu Ri? Guang Tui.

Phasinee Yanotai, the fourth-generation owner of Wang Dafu Muwan Hall, said that in the past, the shop used herbal powders, but after the introduction and rapid expansion of Western medicine in the 1990s, the powders were reformulated into pills. The shop’s most iconic product is a fragrant medicinal pill handmade with rare domestic and international ingredients such as ginseng, borneol, and musk, wrapped in gold foil to resemble a golden pearl. These pills are also relatively more expensive.

▲ On-site production of fragrant medicinal pills.

▲ The pills are coated with a layer of gold foil.

Although they are considered herbs, for Thais, these herbal products are not just for treating illnesses. Phasinee Yanotai explained that in the past, Thais would give medicine as a gift to wish others good health. To this day, Wang Dafu Muwan Hall remains popular with many foreign tourists. Bestsellers include massage oil for soothing sore muscles, nasal decongestants for an energy boost, and digestive aid lozenges—perfect as souvenirs to take home.

▲ Phasinee Yanotai, the fourth-generation owner of Wang Dafu Muwan Hall.

▲ Massage oil for body application.

▲ The Chiji lozenges have a herbal fragrance.

Wang Dafu Muwan Hall
Address: 9 Tesa Lane, Ban Lumman Road, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, Thailand
Phone: 02-221-8070
Mobile: 08-6316-6309